Stop filling your feeders this summer to protect birds

A review by RSPB scientists has re-assessed benefits and risks of feeding garden birds, leading them to issue updated guidance to help protect these much-loved garden visitors.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new guidance for feeding birds in gardens, and the plants we recommend growing instead to provide for them in summer and autumn.

What’s the problem?

The RSPB’s review found strong evidence that supplementary feeding contributes to spread of disease, including Trichomonosis. This parasite has caused serious declines in UK greenfinch and chaffinch populations, and is suspected to be behind a sharp decline in bullfinches too.

Greenfinch numbers in the UK have dropped by over 65% since the mid‑1990s, falling sharply after this strain of Trichomonosis appeared.

Birds concentrate around feeders and baths, creating hotspots for spread of disease. After reviewing all evidence, the RSPB has emphasised the need to feed safely and seasonally to reduce risk.

What is the new RSPB advice?

These are the changes you need to know.

Feed seasonally: From 1 May to 31 October, pause on filling seed and peanut feeders to prevent too many birds gathering in one place. You can offer small amounts of mealworms (in a small dish) or fat balls or suet (in a hanging cage), as these aren’t so appealing to finches.

Feed safely:

• Clean feeders thoroughly at least once a week. Ideally, put them back in a different spot to prevent debris build-up underneath. Clean up any debris you notice.
• Only offer water if you can change it every day. Always use tap water and clean water baths weekly.
• Retire flat feeding trays and bird tables, as research has shown Trichomonosis spreads most readily on flat surfaces, where contaminated food can collect.

Helen Bostock, RHS Senior Wildlife Specialist, says: “The key change is a seasonal approach to feeding, but gardeners can provide a more sustainable solution by choosing plants that offer birds with natural food sources.”

What plants are best for birds?

In summer, natural food is plentiful. You can boost this with planting that encourages insects and provides safer food sources. Helen shares three of her top bird-friendly summer plants.

1. Sunflower – finches such as chaffinches, greenfinches and goldfinches harvest ripe seeds

Ripe seeds are hard, usually yellow, brown or black, and contained in a seedpod that can be buff coloured, white or brown and dry. Ripe seeds usually eject the seedpod easily and naturally.

from this easy-to-grow annual from September by hanging upside down from the large flowerheads.

2. Blackberry – ripening from July–October, these are loved by many birds, like blackbirds, blackcaps and bullfinches. Grow thornless cultivars or let a wild bramble romp over a mature hedge.

3. Pyracantha – berries of this hard-working evergreen ripen to yellow, orange or red from late summer. Red-berried cultivars are likely to be a favourite with birds like song thrushes and pigeons.

By following this new science-based feeding guidance, we can all help the birds we love and gain so much joy from watching.